History Of Aikido

Aikijujutsu and Its Social Background

The next two and a half centuries (Tokugawa period) were relatively peaceful for Japan.
The Samurai, as a class, saw little combat, though they continued to practice and refine the various martial arts of kenjutsu, iaijutsu, bajutsu, and forms of jujutsu. Ju is a Chinese word meaning pliable, harmonious, adaptable, or yielding; jutsu means technique. As a collective term applied to all fighting forms, jujutsu came into existence long after the forms it describes originated. The golden age of Jujutsu extended from the late 17th century to the mid-19th century.

As the martial arts (and all of Japanese culture) became strongly influenced by Buddhist concepts, the fighting arts were transformed from combat techniques (Bugei) into "combat ways" (Budo), inculcating self-discipline, self-perfection, and philosophy. The dimensions of the martial arts expanded beyond the simple objective of killing an enemy to include many aspects of everyday living. Particularly after the decline of Samurai class, the martial "techniques" became martial "ways" and great emphasis was placed upon the study of Budo as a means of generating the moral strength necessary to build a strong and vital society.

Until Japan emerged from isolation in the Meiji period, Aikido was known by many names, and remained an exclusively Samurai practice handed down within the Takeda family. The Meiji Revolution (1868) brought not only the return of Imperial supremacy, but also westernized culture, to the political and economic way of life in Japan. The Bushi, as a class, virtually disappeared under a new constitution that proclaimed all classes equal. The essence of Bushido, cultivated for many centuries, continued to play an important part in the daily lives of the Japanese. Budo, being less combative and more concerned with spiritual discipline by which one elevates oneself mentally and physically, were more attractive to the common people and were readily taken up by all classes, and people of every social stratum. Accordingly, kenjutsu became kendo, iaijutsu became iaido, jojutsu became jodo and jujutsu became judo.